Nagin, Daniel S., and Raymond Paternoster: Individual Differences and Deterrence

Robert Brame

This theory, proposed by Daniel Nagin and Raymond Paternoster, combines ideas from several other prominent criminology theories in a unique way. Thus, the theory of individual differences and deterrence (IDD) represents an important integration, elaboration, and synthesis of different streams of thought in the field of criminology. Drawing from deterrence theory, IDD places considerable weight on the crime-reducing effects of sanction threats. Although deterrence theory is one of the oldest formal theories of criminal behavior, criminologists have long been dissatisfied with its dominant focus on the effects of sanction threats. To address this concern, economists, social psychologists, and criminologists have proposed a range of so-called rational choice theories that emphasize both the benefits and the costs of criminal behavior. While most rational choice theories represent an important advance over traditional deterrence-focused theories, many of these perspectives provide limited insight into the problem of how two individuals—faced with the same set ...

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